Developer fined £165k for ignoring fire safety

A construction firm has been fined £165,000 for repeatedly ignoring fire safety when it turned a warehouse into 35 apartments.

Glovers Court Ltd had a "blatant disregard" for fire precautions during the redevelopment works in Preston, meaning some residents had to leave their homes, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said.

Lancashire Fire And Rescue Service (LFRS) found there was no fire detection system in place, no means of raising the alarm in case of a fire, and inadequate escape plans.

The firm based in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, was found guilty at Preston Magistrates' Court of four offences.

The Glovers Court project was under construction on 16 May 2023 when it was visited by LFRS.

The fire service issued a prohibition notice, meaning those already living there had to leave their homes.

An HSE inspector visited the site as construction works were still "ongoing" and found the firm was not complying with its duty to ensure suitable fire safety precautions.

The HSE served a prohibition notice against Glovers Court Ltd, of Kingsway, stopping all further work on the property until adequate fire precautions were in place and ordered it to come up with a fire management plan.

However, during further visits in June and November 2023, the HSE found construction work had been continuing yet no action had been taken to comply with either of the notices.

HSE inspector Christine McGlynn said the company had shown a "blatant disregard" to both fire safety and the law.

"Each year there are estimated to be hundreds of fires on construction sites, potentially putting the lives of workers and members of the public at risk," she added.

She said fires put people at risk and also damaged and delayed the construction work, which can be avoided by careful planning.

Glovers Court Ltd, which has now gone into liquidation, was found guilty in its absence.

As well as a £165,000 fine it was ordered to pay £10,512 in costs.

A spokesperson for LFRS said the prosecution highlighted "the critical importance property developers, owners and managers must give to fire safety".

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